Folding bench and table



Oct. 20, 1925- E. G. HANEY FOLDING BENCH AND TABLE Filed Sept. 2., 1924 E a z 6 w 5 0 Patented Oct. 20, 1925. j j 1,558,087

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EARL G. HANEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FOLDING BENCH AND TABLE.

Application filed September 2, 1924. Serial No. 735,246.

To all whom it may concern: each side of the hinge connecting the Be it known that I, EARL G. HANEY, a sections A and B it will be suificient to decitizen of the United States, residing at scribe only one of these mechanisms in de- Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, have intail. Like parts are given like reference vented certain new and useful Improvenumerals.

ments in Folding Benches and Tables, of Referring for convenience to the rightwhich the following is a specification, hand portion of Fig. 3, it will be noted that reference being had to the accompanying there is an inner leg 16 and an outer leg 17 drawings, forming part hereof. hinged to the body section B to fold in- These improvements relate to benches and ward. Also thatv a fulcrum bar 18 is tables formed to collapse or fold into a hingedly mounted atone end to the section relatively small space for convenience in B at 19 to fold inward also. At 20 this fulstorage and transportation. The principal crum bar 18 is pivotally mounted to a lever objects of the present improvements are to 21 substantially midway between its ends,

15 provide a device of the character described while a link 22 pivoted at 23 to the lever according to which the two sections may 21 and at 24 to the leg 16 makes a pushbe folded together or opened without releasand-pull connection between the leg 16 and ing catches or locking elements ordinarily the lever 21. A similar link 25 pivoted at diflicult for one unacquainted with a given 26 to the other end of the lever 21 connects device to find and operate; to provide a at 27 to the outer leg 17. A slotted guide structure of substantially few parts easily 28 is pivotally mounted at 29 upon thesecto be made and assembled, which is untion B and a headed pin 30 secured uponthe usually strong, and which will not readily fulcrum bar .18 is adapted to slide in the get out of order. slotted guideway of the member 28. A

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows my imcoiled spring 31 is connected to the bar 18 proved table or bench in side view as exand to the section 29 and is adapted to draw tended for use, one half of the device being the bar 18in one direction until the pin 30 seetionally shown; Fig. 2 shows a bottom comes to the end of the slot in the member view of the same; Fig. 3 shows'the structure 28, the member 28 serving to limit the m0vepartially collapsed, and with one of the ment of the fulcrum bar 18 in the direction body sections in longitudinal medial vertiof pull by the spring.

cal section as in Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a Between the two inner legs 16 is a flexible perspective of the device as it appears element 32, suitably a chain section, which,

closed. as shown by Fig. 1, is of such length that it I provide two body sections A and B is taut when the legs 16 are directed norwhich 'are preferably provided with marmally outward, or substantially at right ginal flanges 10, 11, 12 and 13 respectively, angles to the body members respectively the opposite ones of which abut each other when the device is fully opened.

as shown in Fig. 4 when the device is closed Assuming the structure to be in open posiand provide space inside for the legs and tion, as in Fig. 1, it will be observed that the system of links and levers employed. both ends of the sections A and B are sup- IVhile I have shown a pair of the opera ported by legs and that there is thus protive mechanisms associated with each body vided a very stable device. When in open section A and B, one of these mechanisms condition it may be moved about freely, for

associated with each section A and B will until the folding operation is begun the legs sufiice, in which instance the operative links are maintained in their proper relative posiand levers would be positioned substantially tions by the systems of links and levers at the longitudinal middle on the normally shown and described, and the folding operaunder side of the sections respectively. tion can not take place as long as the device 5 Since the operative parts are the same on normally stands upon its legs.

From Fig. 8 it will be noted that when the folding operation is begun the inner legs 16 come together and push against each other, and this pushing against each other is continued until the sections A and B come together. The legs 16, being bound to fold against the sections A. and B respectively when those sections are folded upon each other, provide a push motion which is communicated through the links 22 to the-lever 21, rocking that lever on its fulcrum 20, thereby drawing upon the links 25and pulling inward the outer leg 17. This operation continues until the lever 21 becomes sub stantially in line with the fulcrum bar 18, at which time the continued push upon the link 22 causes the pin 80 to slide in the slot of the guide :mem'ber and the continued movement causes the fulcrum bar 18 to swing toward the body section until the fulcrunrbar :18 and the guide member 28 have folded down substantially parallel to each other, at which time also the links 22 and and the lever 21 have folded down, the sections A and B being at that time face to face.

On opening the sections A and B out of their relati e positions shown in Fig. 4 all of the other movable parts remain in their folded position until the flexible member 32 becomes taut, at which time the sections are. free to open further but the inner legs '16 are held against separation beyond the normalamount shown in Fig. 1. During the "preliminary part of the opening operation the spring 31 draws the fulcrum bar 18 outward and the pin comes to theend of the slot in'the guide member .28, and thereupon the fulcrum 20 becomes effective and the ensuing pull. upon the link 22 is converted intoa pusl. upon the in 25 having the effect of swing jg the leg 17 outward.

flihe device :is remarkably easy to operate sinceiall ofthe movable parts automatically take their desired relative positions respectively by simply moving the body sections toward and away from each other.

I contemplate as being included in the present invention such changes, modifications and departures from what is herein specifically illustrated and described as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: i

l. fIl1-z1 folding bench or table, the combination of two body sections hinged togetherto told one ;upon the other, each section having an outer leg and an inner leg hinged, thereto to fold toward each other and substantially against the body section to which hinged, a fiexibleelement connecting'the two inner legs and limiting their movement in one direction to 'a position in which the inner legs extend substantially'at right angles to the body sections respectively when the device is in fully-opened position, said inner legs being arranged to push against each other when the body sections are folded one upon the other, and means dependent upon the movement of the inner legs relative to the body members rcspectively for causing the outer legs to fold inward when the body sections are folded and for forcing the outer legs outward when the body sections are swung apart.

2. In a folding bench or table, the combination of two body sections hinged together to fold one upon the other, each sec tion having an outer leg and an inner leg hinged thereto to fold toward each other and substantially against the body section to which hinged, a flexible element connecting the two inner legs and limiting their movement in one direction to a position in which the inner legs extend substantially at right-angles to the body sections respectively when the device is in fully-opened position, said inner legs being arranged to push against each other when the 'body sections are folded one upon the other, and a systom of links and levers between the inner and outer legs respectively for causing the outer legs 'to fold inward when the body sections are folded and to force the outer legs outward when the body sections are swung apart.

$3. In a folding bench or table, the combination of two body sections hinged together to fold one upon the other, each section having "an outer leg and an inner leg hinged thereto to fold toward ea'ch'other and substantially against the body section to which hinged, a flexible element connecting the two inner legs and limiting their movement in one direction to a position in which the inner legs extend substantially at right angles to the body sections respectively when the device is in .fully-opened position, said inner legs being arranged to push against each other when the body sections are folded one upon the other, and a system of links and levers between the inner and outer legs respectively for causing-the outer legs to fold inward when the body sections are folded and to force the outer legs outward when the body sections are swung apart, said system including a fulcrum bar pivoted to the body section, to extend away therefrom and to fold thereagainst, a lever pivoted substantially midway between its ends to the free end of said bar, a link connecting 'one end of said lever to the inner leg, a link connecting the other end of said lever to the outer leg, and means for holding the fulcrum bar :yic'ldingly in its extendedposition during a portion of the sectionsfolding operation.

it. vIn a -felding bench or table, the combination of two body sections hinged together to fold one upon the other in substantially parallel relation, each section having an outer leg hinged thereto to fold substantially against the body section to which hinged, each section having also an inner leg the inner legs being closely adjacent to each other, said sections being free to fold together When the legs are off of the floor, and being held against such folding by the resting of the device With its legs normally upon the floor and means dependent upon the movement of the sections to- 1 Ward each other and the impingement of the inner legs upon each other for causing the legs to fold substantially parallel with the sections respectively when the sections are folded substantially parallel to each other.

EARL Gr. HANEY. 

